NKR CONFLICT SIDES HAVE NEVER BEEN SO CLOSE TO ISSUE SOLUTION, RA FOREIGN MINISTER STATES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

VIENNA, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The Karabakh conflict sides have never
been so close to the issue solution. Foreign Minister of Armenia
Vartan Oskanian made such a statement on April 17, in Vienna, at the
OSCE Permanent Council sitting.

"I have been a minister for 9 years. Before it I was the main envoy
on the Karabakh issue for 5 years. I saw all the proposals of the
mediators. I can assure you that we have never been so close," the
RA Foreign Minister said.

In V. Oskanian’s words, the proposal being discussed at present is very
balanced: "It gives something to everybody and refuses the maximalism
demands of the sides. It is a balanced approach, and we have a hope
that we shall continue having progress based on that document."

According to Radio Liberty, V. Oskanian will leave Vienna for Belgrade
where he will meet with his Azerbaijani colleague.

Touching upon the RA parliamentary elections, the Foreign Minister said
that this is a most serious examination for democracy of Armenia:
"I am deeply sure that we together, the government, opposition,
society and OSCE, really, can hold normal elections what will be a
great contribution in the affair of securing the future democratic
process in Armenia," the RA Foreign Minister said.